Corndell laughed at the superior officer. “By the time you have finished filming that and try to present it, I will be long gone.”
“You think we’re just going to let you walk out of here?” shouted Gardener, “after everything you’ve done, and still are doing?”
“I know so, Mr Gardener. You are going to let me walk free if you want to save the life of your partner’s wife.”
With that, Laura let out a strangulated cry. Gardener glanced upwards. She implored him to do something despite the fact that she couldn’t move or talk. Her legs were trembling.
“She cannot possibly hang on much longer,” said Corndell. “She’s been standing like that for an hour. It’s only a matter of time.”
“He’s right, Stewart,” said Briggs. “We need to save Laura’s life and we can’t do that without him so whatever bargain he wants to make, go ahead. We’ll pick him up later, he won’t get far.”
“He’s managed to escape every other time he’s killed someone,” retorted Gardener, unwilling to play his game. “What’s different now?”
“He can’t slip back to this place any longer. We know about it. As soon as he leaves here, we can set up roadblocks and we can have men on stations and airports. He’s going nowhere fast, so give him his moment of glory.”
“Listen to him, Mr Gardener. He’s talking sense.” Corndell stood with his arms folded, as if he had already won the battle.
Laura whined. One glance at her and Gardener knew Briggs was right. She could not hold that stance very much longer.
Gardener ran his hands down his face, thoroughly frustrated. Where the hell was Sean Reilly when he needed him?
Gardener raised his hands in the air. “Okay, you win, Mr Corndell. How are we going to play this?”
Chapter Fifty-nine
Corndell chuckled, he had them where he wanted them. And they hadn’t seen the half of it yet.
He drew his right hand toward his pocket, reassuring himself everything was in place, and that he maintained the advantage. He wondered how far he would be able to push it, making them dance to his merry tune.
Glancing at Laura, Corndell realized there was a slight amount of slack in the rope around her neck: time to ramp up the tension.
He turned. As he reached out for the lever, he had a shock of his own to deal with.
“No you don’t, sunshine,” said Sean Reilly, punching Corndell straight in the mouth, more than once.
Corndell fell back, crashing into the side of the box.
Reilly punched him once more and Corndell fell flat on his arse, winded and slightly dazed.
The Irishman grabbed Corndell by the scruff of his neck. “I haven’t finished with you, sunshine. I’m going out there to free my wee wife and then I’m coming back in here to finish you off.
Corndell’s head was swimming. He felt like he’d been hit by a battering ram.
Reilly grabbed his right hand, quickly handcuffing it to the rail running around the box.
“You’re going nowhere.”
Chapter Sixty
Gardener heard the crash as an aluminium ladder was thrown over the side of the box, landing in the soft earth with a clump. “Where the hell’s that come from?” Gardener peered up toward the box. He couldn’t see Corndell.
“What the hell are you up to, Corndell?” shouted Gardener, tramping forward, which wasn’t easy due to the soil underfoot. Was he about to play another game: allow them to try and save Laura but perhaps lower the column at the last second?
The silence was condemning.
“What fucking perverse game is he up to now?” Briggs asked Gardener.
“He isn’t up to anything,” said Reilly, appearing stage left. He headed straight for the ladder.
Gardener lurched forward and helped his partner part the ladder despite it being nowhere near stable enough to climb.
Briggs ran to help. “Where the hell is Corndell?”
“Don’t worry,” replied Reilly, “he isn’t going anywhere.”
Knowing his partner better than anyone, Gardener wondered if he’d already killed Corndell. It was a fleeting thought, so he doubted and dismissed it.
“Sir,” said Gardener to Briggs, “grab the other side of the ladder, let’s do the best we can. I doubt it will be stable enough but Laura has very little time left.”
The first time Reilly attempted to climb it, the ladder fell toward the pole, rocking it slightly, causing Laura some unnecessary panic. Gardener glanced upwards and his heart flew into his mouth as Laura rocked forward. Thankfully, she kept her balance.
“Jesus Christ!” shouted Reilly. “He’s a dead man when I’m through here.”
Briggs ignored the threatening comment. “It’s okay, Sean, just get up there and get your missus.”
Despite the rocking motion, he finally made it to the top of the ladder. Gardener didn’t figure he would have any chance of being able to stand on the podium with Laura but the ladder was almost as high and Reilly was slightly taller than his wife.
But it was a tense few seconds whilst he managed to loosen the noose.
Gardener heard a sigh of relief as he unhooked Laura’s neck.
But then they heard a scraping sound from the box to the left.
Gardener turned.
“Good effort, Mr Reilly, but not good enough.”
Chapter Sixty-one
In his left hand, Corndell held a small oblong box, about the size of a TV remote. His face was bloody from a cut to his mouth and Gardener could see his right hand.
“What’s he holding?” asked Briggs.
“I’d hate to think,” said Gardener, aware of how precarious their situation was. Reilly was still at the top of the ladder with Laura slumped over his shoulder. He and his senior officer were stuck in mud.
“It’s all over, Mr Gardener, you’re out of time.”
Corndell screeched with laughter as he raised his left hand.
Gardener was suddenly reminded of the mad scientists in the old horror films, those
